A 48-year-old member of a suspected bogus cop syndicate is facing charges of attempted robbery after he was caught on the R24.
The incident took place on January 10 when a 25–year-old man and his mother, travelling from OR Tambo International Airport on the R24 highway past Edenvale, were signalled to pull off the highway.
Three male occupants of an Alfa Romeo sedan allegedly flashed fake police appointment certificates at the man and his mother before instructing them to pull off the highway.
“When the man stopped his vehicle, he recognised one of occupants of the other vehicle as the same person who robbed him of his cash and a cellphone in July 2011, using the same modus operandi,” said the spokesperson for the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), Chief Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago.
The robbery was witnesses by members of the SAPS and officers from the EMPD Freeway Unit.
When officers confronted the suspects, the driver of the Alfa Romeo and one of his accomplices sped away leaving the third man behind.
“The stranded suspect jumped into one of the vehicles stuck in traffic but officers were able to yank him out of the car,” said Supt Kgasago.
The man was arrested and taken to the Bedfordview Police Station where a charge of attempted robbery was laid against him.
“In-depth investigations are underway to establish whether the suspect can be linked to several robberies of this nature that have taken place in the recent past,” said Supt Kgasago.
